IBM Helps Panasonic Deliver New Panasonic Plasma Concierge Services Online

ARMONK, NY - 06 Dec 2006: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it worked with Panasonic to create a web platform for the company’s Plasma TV customer support program. The new online version of the Panasonic Plasma Concierge program includes access to exclusive online content, personalized product information, online priority service scheduling and service updates.

Launched in June, the Panasonic Plasma Concierge is designed to provide dedicated live technical support and personalized services to current and new owners of Panasonic Plasma televisions. Panasonic, the industry leader in Plasma and HDTV, is investing more than $15 million in this unique program, including upgrading its customer call center capabilities, enhancing its website and taking measures to improve the overall customer experience.

“The Panasonic Plasma Concierge program is an investment in customer loyalty based on satisfaction with every aspect of Plasma TV ownership and support,” said, Larry Toscano, Strategic Planning Manager, Panasonic Corporation of North America. “Our work with IBM to deliver a high quality online experience is an important component of the program. The IBM team helped us build an interactive web experience which delivers the functionality and reliability our customers expect and is in line with our business objectives.”

IBM Global Business Services consultants collaborated with Panasonic to design a web companion to the service which delivered a new level of functionality to customers. Leveraging open standard technology, IBM Global Technology Services built the new web platform using IBM’s WebSphere Commerce software. The Panasonic Plasma Concierge web service is hosted on a Linux powered IBM System z eServer ensuring high availability. The IBM team continues to work with Panasonic to enhance the web platform as it grows.

“Understanding and catering to your customers is vital in today’s competitive consumer electronics marketplace,” said George Bailey, General Manager, Electronics Industry, IBM. “Panasonic is focused on creating a new level of meta-value for their loyal customers with the Panasonic Plasma Concierge. IBM worked to blend their business model innovation with technologies that gives Panasonic the flexibility they required.”

For more information on IBM solutions and services for the Electronics industry please visit: www.ibm.com/electronics.

For more information on the Panasonic Plasma Concierge program please visit the Panasonic website at www.PlasmaConcierge.com.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

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Michael Rowinski

IBM Media Relations

IBM

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